Cazenovia College Students Traveled to Europe over Spring Break

Event Date(s):

Friday, March 4, 2016 - 9:00am

A group of Cazenovia College students spent spring break traveling around Europe to learn about cultural differences, diversity awareness, and the impact of globalization. After seven weeks of preparing for their European Exploration trip, fifteen students embarked on an eight-day journey through the cities of London and Paris. Accompanied by Dr. Grazyna Kozaczka, Professor Karen Steen and Professor Megan Lawson-Clark, the group toured famous landmarks and other public spaces.

The group flew overnight to England and explored London for the first three days. Students were able to take guided walking tours of the city and famous places, including the Strand, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul's Cathedral, the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St. George's Chapel and Queen Mary’s Dolls' House.

"I saw an excitement glowing from the students," commented Professor Steen. "The students were excited to be in the places that they read about. It was so surreal to them to be standing under places like the Eiffel Tower and touring Windsor Castle."

On day five, the group traveled to Paris to tour the city and its many beautiful sites. Among the sites on the guided tours were places such as Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, the Latin Quarter, Place du Tertre, Sacré Coeur and many more. The group was also able to visit the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral.

"My favorite place was Versailles and the room with all of the mirrors," said Emily Rahrle, human services senior. "There were dozens of chandeliers all the way down the ballroom with mirrors on one side and windows on the other. The tour guide even taught us a mini dance step. Versailles was gorgeous in a completely different way than Windsor. Windsor was almost flashy with dark colors and stunning gold embellishments, while Versailles almost seemed to have a modern elegance."

The tour was organized through the College Study Tours organization and provided students with a vast array of sightseeing opportunities. As part of the students' coursework, they were asked to view these sites as more than the casual tourist. The class utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to "read" urban spaces as someone may read a book. They were asked to use the public spaces – streets, rivers, museums, stores, pubs and cafes, outdoor markets, buildings and parks – as text in order to apply theories of space, place and identity.

Students visited these locations, as well as fashion ateliers, shops, streets, markets, people and the city environment as a whole, trying to decipher the messages they send and why. "Reading urban spaces means that you notice everything and what it means," commented Dr. Kozaczka. "Students examined the various patterns, garbage can locations, smells, human interactions, and much more. They were then asked to make comparisons between the two cities and reflect on those experiences based on literature they read to prepare for the trip."

Amber Bacchus, English junior, wrote about her experience trying new food during the trip: "I tried escargot, duck leg and lamb chops for the first time ever. I had no idea what to expect initially, but I loved it. The escargot tasted like garlic but the texture was oysters."

This international study opportunity is part of the semester-long course entitled European Exploration: London and Paris, which introduces students to two exciting European capitals and allows them to gain an understanding of diverse cultures. The class is one of many international study opportunities provided to Cazenovia College students. For more information visit: http://www.cazenovia.edu/study-abroad